Bonini says he won't run for state treasurer

Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover, sent an email to supporters Thursday evening saying he would not be running for the state treasurer's office.

Bonini, who lost narrowly to state Treasurer Chip Flowers in 2010, had been considering another campaign for the office, saying he had planned to decide by the end of this month. Bonini said in Thursday's email that he has decided against running and instead endorsed Republican Ken Simpler, a former hedge fund manager who has filed for the office.

"I think it is vitally important to have a fiscal conservative in the Senate and am hoping to continue to be that voice," he said. "With that in mind, I have decided to run for re-election to the Senate, and to devote my time to working to elect the many qualified Republican candidates who share our vision for the future of Delaware."

Flowers has a Democratic primary opponent this September in Sean Barney, a former policy director for Gov. Jack Markell and adviser to U.S. Sen. Tom Carper.

Contact Jon Offredo at (302) 678-4271 or at joffredo@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @jonoffredo.